This crimson lentil soup recipe is cozy, flavorful, and vivid with lemon. Simple to make with easy substances, it is a scrumptious, wholesome one-pot meal.
This crimson lentil soup recipe is strictly what I’m craving as of late. It’s cozy and warming, however nourishing too. Blended crimson lentils thicken the broth (no cream right here!) and provides every bowl a lift of plant-based protein. Fragrant veggies and cumin add earthy depth of taste. This crimson lentil soup is wholesome and scrumptious.
The recipe is impressed by Turkish crimson lentil soup, which is one in all my favourite dishes to order at Center Jap eating places. In contrast to lentil soup made with inexperienced or brown lentils, it has a vibrant orange-yellow colour and vivid, lemony style. On a chilly winter day, it’s an ideal pick-me-up!
This crimson lentil soup is simple to make with fundamental pantry substances. Easy, filling, and flavorful, it’s a terrific recipe to have in your again pocket right now of 12 months. I hope you adore it as a lot as I do!

Purple Lentil Soup Components
Right here’s what you’ll have to make this crimson lentil soup recipe:
- Purple lentils, after all! The crimson lentils crumble as they prepare dinner, giving the soup a thick, creamy consistency. Inexperienced or brown lentils is not going to work right here. When you have these, go try this lentil soup recipe as a substitute!
- Onion, garlic, carrot, and celery – These fragrant veggies create the soup’s flavorful base.
- Yukon Gold potato – For texture.
- Floor cumin – For earthy depth of taste.
- Cayenne pepper – For warmth. Skip it when you’re delicate to spice, or substitute a pinch of gentle chili powder.
- Vegetable broth and water – You’ll want 5 to six cups of liquid to make this soup recipe. The precise quantity will rely on how a lot liquid your lentils take in. I name for 4 cups broth and 1 to 2 cups water as a result of most store-bought inventory is available in 4-cup bins. When you have further inventory available, or when you’re utilizing selfmade vegetable broth, be at liberty to switch the water with extra broth.
- Recent lemon juice – It offers the soup a scrumptious vivid end.
- Additional-virgin olive oil – It provides pretty richness. Use some within the soup, and serve it with one other drizzle of oil on prime.
- Recent parsley – For garnish. You may technically skip it, however I like the freshness it provides to this easy soup. Recent cilantro can be good right here too.
- And salt and pepper – To make all of the flavors pop!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements beneath.

Easy methods to Make Purple Lentil Soup
This crimson lentil soup recipe has three easy steps:
- Sauté
- Simmer
- Mix
Begin by sautéing the aromatics. Warmth the olive oil in a big pot over medium warmth. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and prepare dinner till smooth, about 8 minutes. Stir within the potato, garlic, cumin, and cayenne and prepare dinner for an additional minute.

Subsequent, simmer the soup. Add the lentils, broth, and 1 cup water to the pot. Convey to a simmer and prepare dinner, uncovered, for half-hour, or till the potatoes and lentils are tender.
Then, mix. The trick to this crimson lentil soup recipe is simply partially mixing the soup. The blended lentils and potatoes will give it a pleasant creamy consistency, whereas the remaining entire potatoes and different veggies will depart a little bit of texture.
An immersion blender is ideal for this, however you may use an upright blender too. In case you’re going that route, switch a lot of the soup to a blender and mix till clean. Then, add it again to the pot with the remaining chunky soup.
Lastly, season and serve. Stir within the lemon juice and season to style with salt and pepper. Serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and recent parsley.
Take pleasure in!
Recipe Suggestions
- Cease mixing earlier than it’s completely clean. I wish to mix a number of the lentils and potatoes on this soup to make the broth thick and creamy. However I don’t completely puree it—leaving some chunks offers the soup a satisfying texture. An immersion blender is ideal for this!
- Add extra water for a thinner soup. I record a spread of water on this recipe. You could want much less or extra relying on how a lot water your lentils take in. Begin on the low finish and keep there for a thick crimson lentil soup. Add extra water for a thinner one. The ultimate texture is as much as you!
- Make it your individual. I like this recipe as written, however it’s versatile. Be happy to make it your individual! Attempt changing the cumin with floor coriander or paprika, or experiment with candy potato as a substitute of the yellow potato or carrot. Add a pair tablespoons of tomato paste for a bolder colour and tangier taste, or dump in a can of diced tomatoes. Simply don’t skip the lemon juice. Its vivid, tangy taste takes this recipe excessive.

What to Serve with Purple Lentil Soup
I like to serve this crimson lentil soup with crusty bread and a easy salad. Any of those salad recipes would pair properly with it:
Storage and Reheating
Leftovers preserve nicely in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. You can too freeze this soup for as much as 3 months.
The soup will thicken after a day or two within the fridge, so it’s possible you’ll have to stir in a bit water to skinny it once you reheat.

Extra Favourite Soup Recipes
In case you love this crimson lentil soup, attempt one in all these simple soup recipes subsequent:

Purple Lentil Soup
Serves 6
This crimson lentil soup recipe is flavorful, comforting, and simple to make! Easy substances like crimson lentils, onions, cumin, and lemon juice give it a stunning creamy texture and vivid, earthy taste. Leftovers freeze nicely! Vegan and gluten-free.
Forestall your display from going darkish
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Warmth the olive oil in a big pot or Dutch oven over medium warmth. Add the onion, carrot, celery, salt, and several other grinds of pepper. Cook dinner, stirring sometimes, for 8 minutes, or till the greens are smooth.
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Stir within the potato, garlic, cumin, and cayenne and prepare dinner, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the lentils, broth, and 1 cup water. Simmer for half-hour, or till the lentils and potatoes are smooth.
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Take away from the warmth and use an immersion blender to mix till largely clean. (Alternatively, mix the soup in an upright blender.) If the soup is simply too thick, add the remaining 1 cup water.
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Add the lemon juice and season to style with extra salt and pepper as desired. Ladle into bowls and serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and chopped recent parsley.
